Michelia plant named ‘MICJUR05’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct  Michelia  cultivar named ‘MICJUR05’ is disclosed, characterized by having a pyramidal, moderately compact growth habit and abundant, fragrant, clear white flowers. Plants begin flowering in late Winter, and continue flowering for 12 weeks. The new variety is a  Michelia , normally produced as a small ornamental tree or shrub.

Latin name of the genus and species: Michelia yunnanensis×doltsopa.

Variety denomination: ‘MICJUR05’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The new cultivar is a product of a planned breeding program. The newvariety resulted from a crossing performed in 1995 in North Taranaki,Nth Is, New Zealand. The seed parent is the unpatented variety, Micheliayunnanensis ‘Velvet and Cream’. The pollen parent is the unpatentedvariety Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’. The new variety was firstselected in 1999, by the inventor, Mark Jury at a commercial nursery inNorth Taranaki, New Zealand.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ by vegetativecuttings was first in performed in 2004 at a commercial nursery in NewZealand and has shown that the unique features of this cultivar arestable and reproduced true to type on successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ has not been observed under all possibleenvironmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat withvariations in environment such as temperature, day length, and lightintensity, without, however, any variance in genotype. The followingtraits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the uniquecharacteristics of ‘MICJUR05’. These characteristics in combinationdistinguish ‘MICJUR05’ as a new and distinct Michelia cultivar:

-   -   1. Medium sized evergreen shrub or tree.    -   2. Late Winter/Early Spring flowering    -   3. Pyramidal growth habit.    -   4. Moderately dense growth.    -   5. Clear white flowers.    -   6. Strong fragrance to flowers.    -   7. Usefulness as a street tree, hedge, topiary or specimen tree.    -   8. Bronze underside to foliage    -   8. Long flowering season.    -   9. Large quantity of flowers.    -   10. Good lastingness of flowers

PARENT COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ are similar to plants of the seedparent, Michelia yunnanensis ‘Velvet and Cream’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics, however, plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ havelarger flowers and larger foliage. Additionally, plants of the newvariety produce flowers with more fragrance than those of the seedparent.

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Michelia doltsopa ‘Silver Cloud’ in most horticulturalcharacteristics. However, plants of the new cultivar are much shorteroverall, and have a more controlled growth habit. Additionally, the newvariety has a different floral scent. ‘MICJUR05’ can be grown fromcuttings, whereas ‘Silver Cloud’ requires grafting or budding.

COMMERCIAL COMPARISON

Plants of the new cultivar ‘MICJUR05’ are similar to plants of thepollen parent, Michelia hybrid ‘MICJUR02’, U.S. Plant patent applicationSer. No. 13/987,703 in most horticultural characteristics. However,plants of the new cultivar differ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘MICJUR05’ has larger flowers.    -   2. ‘MICJUR05’ has larger foliage.    -   3. ‘MICJUR05’ begins flowering earlier in the season.    -   4. ‘MICJUR05’ has less glossy foliage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPH

The accompanying photograph in FIG. 1 illustrates in full color atypical plant of ‘MICJUR05’ grown outdoors. Age of the plantphotographed is approximately 5 years from a rooted cutting.

FIG. 2 illustrates in full color typical flowers of ‘MICJUR05’.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

In the following description, color references are made to The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 except where general terms ofordinary dictionary significance are used. The following observationsand measurements describe ‘MICJUR05’ plants grown outdoors in NewZealand. Growing conditions are similar to USDA Zone 7. Age of theplants when described is approximately 4 years old. Measurements andnumerical values represent averages of typical plant types.

-   Botanical classification: Michelia yunnanensis×doltsopa ‘MICJUR05’.

PROPAGATION

-   Time to initiate roots: About 60 days at approximately 21° C.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting: About 120 days at 21° C.-   Root description: Typical Michelia root, thick, coarse, colored near    RHS White 155A.

PLANT

-   Growth habit: Pyramidal shaped medium sized evergreen shrub or tree.-   In a container or in the ground: Ground.-   Height: Approximately 4 meters after 12 years.-   Plant spread: Approximately 3.8 meters after 12 years.-   Stem diameter: Approximately 20 cm after 12 years.-   Branching characteristics: Depends upon cultural techniques. Without    pruning, a single trunk tree with lateral branches form at acute    angles to the trunk. With pruning, plants can be grown as large    shrubs.-   Individual branch characteristics (of 1 year old tree):    -   -   Length.—Up to 25 cm.        -   Diameter.—Up to 0.5 cm.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS 197B.-   Trunk:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 20 cm, after 12 years. Measured            approximately 10 cm above the ground.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Near RHS 197B.

FOLIAGE

-   Leaf:    -   -   Arrangement.—Mixed alternate, and occasionally opposite.        -   Average length.—Approximately 13.0 to 15.0 cm.        -   Average width.—Approximately 6.5 to 7.0 cm.        -   Shape of blade.—Elliptic.        -   Apex.—Acute to acuminate.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Texture of top surface.—Smooth, with glossy appearance.        -   Texture of lower surface.—Smooth.        -   Leaf internode length.—Approximately 3 cm.        -   Color.—Mature foliage upper side: Near RHS Yellow-Green            147A. Mature foliage under side: Near RHS Yellow-Green 146B.-   Foliage:    -   -   Venation.—Type: Pinnate. Venation color upper side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144C. Venation color under side: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144B.        -   Petiole.—Not present, sessile.

FLOWER

-   Natural flowering season: Flowering begins late Winter to early    Spring. Lasts approximately 12 weeks.-   Begins flowering after how many years/months: 1.5 to 2 years after    planting an unrooted cutting.-   Inflorescence type and habit: Solitary occurring, rotate. Flowers    have a flattened concave aspect in the upper profile, and flattened    convex aspect in the lower profile.-   Quantity of flowers: Profuse, approximately 1500 per tree or shrub.-   Individual flower size:    -   -   Diameter.—Approximately 13.0 to 14.0 cm.        -   Depth.—Approximately 6 cm.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Length.—0.6 to 1.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—0.5 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 167A.        -   Texture.—Soft velvety pubescence.-   Pedicel: Not present.-   Petals:    -   -   Petal arrangement.—9 to 13 whorled, overlapping.        -   Shape.—Elliptic.        -   Size.—Length: 7.0 to 8.0 cm. Width: 2.5 to 3.5 cm.        -   Margin.—Entire.        -   Apex.—Acute.        -   Base.—Rounded.        -   Petal quantity.—Approximately 9 to 13.        -   Texture.—Smooth, all surfaces.        -   Color.—Petals: When opening: Upper surface: Near RHS White            Ni 55D, basal spot Orange-White 159A. Lower surface: Near            RHS White N155D. Fully opened: Upper surface: Near RHS White            N155D, basal spot Orange-White 159A. Lower surface: Near RHS            White N155D. Color Changes when aging: Upper surface: Near            RHS White N155D, base Yellow-Green 154C. Lower surface: Near            RHS White N155D.-   Bud:    -   -   Shape.—Ovate to linear.        -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Diameter.—Approximately 1 cm.        -   Color.—Near RHS Greyed-Orange 166B.-   Sepals/tepals: Not Present.-   Fragrance: Noticeable, pleasant fragrance.

REPRODUCTION ORGANS

-   Stamens:    -   -   Number.—Approximately 23.        -   Filament length.—Approximately 1.5 cm.        -   Filament color.—Near RHS Orange-White 159A.-   Anthers:    -   -   Length.—Approximately 0.2 cm.        -   Shape.—Linear.        -   Color.—Near RHS Orange-White 159A.-   Pistil:    -   -   Number.—1.        -   Length.—Approximately 2 cm.        -   Style.—Length: Approximately 1.8 cm. Color: Near RHS            Yellow-Green 144A when immature. Matures to Greyed-Orange            166B.        -   Pollen.—Quantity: Moderate. Color: Near RHS Greyed-Orange            163B.

OTHER CHARACTERISTICS

-   Seeds and fruits: The new cultivar sets a small amount of seed    irregularly.    -   -   Fruit color.—Begins near RHS Green Yellow-Green 144C,            changes to Brown 200B before dropping off before mature.        -   Seed size.—Approximately 0.7 cm long, 0.2 cm wide. Colored            Browtn 200B.-   Disease/pest resistance: Neither resistance nor susceptibility to    pathogens and pests common to Michelia have been observed.-   Temperature tolerance: The new variety is suitable for growing in    USDA zones 7b through 11.

What is claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct cultivar of Michelia plantnamed ‘MICJUR05’ as herein illustrated and described.